a) Evaporation is responsible for removing 1.2 m (depth) of water from the globa

Question

a) Evaporation is responsible for removing 1.2 m (depth) of water from the global oceans each year. The oceans cover a total surface area of 3.6132 x 108 square kilometers. Assume the density is 1000kg/m3. Calculate the total mass of water (in kg) evaporated from the oceans each year and show your work/steps.

b) The energy required to evaporate 1 kg of water is equal to 2.3 x106 Joules. Using your results in part a, calculate the total energy required to fuel the evaporation from the oceans each year. Report your answer in Joules and show your work/steps.

c) Using your results from part b, calculate the energy absorbed by the oceans in Joules per square meter (show your work and steps).

d) Assuming that energy absorption takes place at a constant rate over the course of a year, calculate the rate at which energy is absorbed by the oceans. Report your answer in Watts per square meter (show your work and steps).

Explanation / Answer

a) The total volume of water evaporated per year is 3.6132×1014 m 2 ×1.2 m=4.33584×1014 m 3 ;

The total mass of water evaporated per year: 4.33584×1014 m 3 ×1000 kg/ m3 =4.33584×1017 kg;

b) The total energy required for the evaporation per year is: 4.33584×1017 kg×2.3×106 J/kg=10.57×1023J;

c) The total energy per square meter of ocean surface to provide this evaporation: 10.57×1023J/ 3.6132×1014 m 2 =3.82×109 J/ m2 ;

d) The average rate of energy per square meter of ocean surface: 3.82×109 J/ m2 /(3.153×107 second)=121.15 W/ m2 ;

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